Drought conditions persisted in the western half of the Prairies while the eastern half received above normal precipitation during the month of October, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Drought Monitor.
The Prairies region covers Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
There were several areas that recorded temperatures above 20 degrees in each of the three provinces, especially in the last week of October, says the report.
In Alberta, the west-central and southern areas and the Peace Region had well-below normal precipitation with Calgary getting just 12 per cent of normal precipitation, Red Deer 13 per cent of normal and Medicine Hat 23 per cent of normal. The lack of rain resulted in an expansion of Extreme Drought (D3) conditions covering an area between Edmonton and Calgary and an expansion of Moderate Drought (D1) and Abnormally dry (D0) conditions for southern Alberta. Northeastern Alberta had 150 per cent more precipitation than normal, including 226 per cent of normal in Fort McMurray, reducing drought conditions according to the report.
In Saskatchewan, the south west and south-central regions also expanded in Moderate Drought and abnormally dry conditions last month. A map of drought conditions across Canada shows an area stretching from west-central to east-central and down to the southeast that don't have any drought label. The east-central region received above normal precipitation.
In Manitoba, the west-central and southern regions had above average rainfall with the south getting more than twice the average. The report states the precipitation over the last two months "resulted in improved soil moisture, streamflow and surface water and resulted in drought conditions being significantly reduced in all areas of southern Manitoba."
Overall, "82% of the Prairie Region was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or in Moderate to Exceptional Drought (D1 to D4), including 68% of the region's agricultural landscape" according to the report.
